Crossover: 2014

Chapter 147 An Application Worth Over [-] Million (Part [-])
As mentioned above, the shortcut command software has the characteristics of functional diversity.

But functional versatility is just one of several features of shortcuts.

Lin Hui thinks that the biggest feature of the shortcut software is that it is more efficient than similar iOS software at the same time.

With the help of the shortcut command software, the operations that Apple mobile phone users originally required many steps to complete can now be completed with only a very limited number of steps.

For example, under normal circumstances, if users want to realize the simple function of taking screenshots of webpage content and sharing them, at least the following steps are required:

Screenshot → open the album → select the screenshot just now → circle the part that the user thinks is worth sharing → save to the album → share with friends → delete the screenshot
(ps: ...don't use the current situation as an example.

It is true that the previous Apple mobile phone screenshots cannot be edited directly, nor can they be shared directly)

According to the traditional operation method, it is very troublesome, isn't it?
But with the app Shortcuts everything is different.

Through the actions edited in advance in the shortcut command.

When users want to quickly share the content on the webpage with friends, they only need to take a screenshot, and then click the [Share Screenshot Content] tool in the shortcut command.

At this time, the [Share Screenshot Content] custom tool will automatically obtain the picture you just captured.

Then directly enter the picture editing mode through the built-in Aviary SDK in the shortcut command APP.

After editing, the iOS built-in sharing option will pop up automatically.

After the user finishes sharing, the custom tool [Share Screenshot Content] will automatically delete the screenshot just now.

It is also the matter of sharing screenshots of web pages with friends, with the help of the shortcut command software.

What the user actually does is something like this:
Take a screenshot → click [Share screenshot content] in the shortcut app → (the user circles the part that is worth sharing) → (share with friends)
Under normal circumstances, it takes seven steps to operate. With the help of shortcut instructions, this software now only needs four steps to complete.

In reality, fewer steps may be required.

If the user has a fixed sharing partner.

By editing the corresponding sharing tool, it is set in advance to share to a specific contact person of a specific application.

In this way, only three steps are required in the actual implementation of the sharing process.

And if all the user needs is to take a screenshot and share it with a fixed contact.

No need to edit the picture.

Then, with the help of shortcut instructions, the actual operations required by the software user are reduced to two steps.

Just a few steps missing, is it worth the hype?
Of course it's worth it!

It's just a few steps missing, but it's a great victory.

The reason why the steps can be reduced is that the shortcut software transforms a process that originally needs to be coordinated in many different software into a one-stop processing.

When using the shortcut command to share the content of the screenshot of the web page.

Whether it is two steps, three steps or four steps when users share, in fact, all steps are carried out in a software with shortcut commands.

There is no need to jump between various software.

If you need to jump between various software.

Then the user's attention is likely to be attracted by other software during the actual sharing process.

In short, one-stop processing seems to be just a few steps missing.

In fact, the efficiency of users has been greatly improved.

Sharing screenshots of web content is just one example.

In fact, with the help of shortcut commands, this software can improve the efficiency of many tasks or processes.

At the same time with the help of the shortcut command this software.

Some software, such as long picture stitching, short video turning picture, and moving picture turning short video, have a high probability of being retired in situ.

In addition to shortcut commands, there are many functional built-in actions in this software that are unique to efficiency applications.

For example, compress the file, make the result into a PDF, save the content to iCloud, etc.

For some third-party application shortcuts, this software also has many unique features...

In short, the shortcut command software is very powerful.

However, all this is defined at this point in time in 2014.

It is actually meaningless to talk about value out of the era.

These things that seem valuable now will be a bit tasteless in the next few years.

But it doesn't matter, as long as this software is valuable to Lin Hui at this time, it is enough.

Although the shortcut command this software can achieve many functions.

But Lin Hui is not concerned about the functionality of this software.

Lin Hui is concerned about the shortcut command software itself.

Although the shortcut command software will appear as a built-in application of the Apple mobile phone system in the next few years.

But it wasn't originally developed by Apple.

The original name of the software "Shortcut Command" is not called "Shortcut Command".

It is called "workflow", literally translated as "workflow".

However, among the many names of this software, Lin Hui still likes the name of shortcut command the most.

Other sayings are more or less vague.

Past Life Shortcuts This software was developed by Ari Weinstein and others at the end of 2014.

According to the normal timeline, the software Shortcuts only landed on the Apple App Store in December 2014.

When it first landed on the Apple App Store, the shortcut software appeared as a paid application.

Lin Hui remembers that it still costs 18 yuan to download in China.

Although the shortcut command is a paid software, it does not affect the spread of this software.

Shortcut Command This software has been widely loved by users since it was launched.

Users love this software for a reason.

One is that the shortcut command breaks through the sandbox limit of iOS in form.

Users can get information from one application and send it to another application.

The second is because the shortcut command software can give users a sense of control.

When users customize tools, they will gain a kind of programmatic control.

Popular with users, Workflow was named the best app on the App Store in 2015.

Later, Apple also became interested in this software.

The software was acquired by Apple in 2017.

The development team was also brought under Apple's command.

Lin Hui remembered that the shortcut software in his previous life was acquired by Apple for 3000 million US dollars.

3000 million U.S. dollars, but more than [-] million yuan.

In this way, Lin Hui can create this software in advance and wait for it to be acquired by Apple.

Although it took several years for this software in the previous life to be acquired by Apple.

But in Lin Hui's view, the reason why the software took a long time in the previous life was acquired.

It is because the developer of this software did not know that this software would be acquired by Apple.

Therefore, I have not focused my work on this software.

So much so that this software was not on the right track until 2016.

However, if Lin Hui knew that this software would be acquired by Apple, the situation would be different.

And Lin Hui has the complete body of this software as a reference.

It can be said that the online is a quasi-mature version.

As for why not the mature version?

Because in order to achieve a fully mature version, Apple must open the corresponding permissions.

As for the direction in which the mature version should develop, Lin Hui is also clear.

If Apple can improve the background resident permissions for shortcut commands.

Then the shortcut command software will have a more flexible operation mode.

And if Apple releases the memory limit of the notification center.

It means that the shortcut command can be directly invoked by the user in the notification center.

In addition, the shortcut command should preferably support Siri...

In short, even if Lin Hui can't handle the mature version for the time being.

It is also very clear how the mature version should build Lin Hui.

Although it is not possible to create a mature version of the shortcut command.

But even the semi-mature version is enough.

Lin Hui felt that as long as he normalized the software of shortcut commands.

It won't take long to get Apple's attention.

Lin Hui remembered that in his previous life, Apple paid great attention to the shortcut command software.

Apple has also acquired companies with applications on the App Store before, either for people or technology, and generally does not keep the applications.

But Workflow has packaged and acquired the application itself, technology and team this time.

It is enough to see that Apple attaches great importance to the Workflow application.

Therefore, Lin Hui felt that as long as he could formalize the shortcut software enough, it would surely attract Apple's attention.

As for after Apple has paid enough attention.

Will you switch to self-study?
Lin Hui felt that there was a high probability that it would not.

Although it seems that Apple's scientific research capabilities are very strong.

But in fact, big technology companies still prefer money to clear the way.

If it weren't for the fact that companies such as Qualcomm and Intel are too thieves.

It is not certain whether Apple will develop its own chips.

Among other things, even Siri was acquired by Apple.

Like Workflow, Siri, created in 2007, started out as an app on the iOS platform.

At the time, Siri also had corresponding apps for Android and BlackBerry.

In 2010, Apple acquired the Siri company and redeveloped Siri.

At the fall conference of the second year, the iPhone 4s with built-in Siri was born.

In short, Apple is not as closed to imported technology as the outside world imagines.

Lin Hui only needs to show enough regularization in the shortcut command software.

Lin Hui believes that it will impress Apple.

In addition, there is another benefit that Apple can hardly refuse when it comes to shortcut commands.

The combination of shortcut command software and Siri will directly help Apple's voiceover.

The Voiceover function is a new voice assistant program launched by APPLE in April 2009.

This function will help the handicapped/handicapped very well.

Voiceover is for Apple

Just like the output of web texts is to Lin Hui.

It may not actually have much effect, but it is significant.

Investing in voiceover allows Apple to always stand on the commanding heights of caring for vulnerable groups.

However, judging from the situation in the past few years in the past life, Apple is not completely hypocritical.

At least the caring for the handicapped/handicapped is higher than that of the domestic Internet giants. I don't know where it is.

At this point, you can stand on Apple without thinking.

And it involves the sale of Workflow software.

Lin Hui felt that he had nothing to do with the enemy.

Among other things, many people have the shortcut command software in their mobile phones in later generations.

But, even loyal Apple users.

Not many people actually use this software.

Many people even dislike the software getting in the way when they place their desktops.

Just remove the icon.

From another perspective, if such software is so important.

Some domestic manufacturers have long followed suit.

Anyway, Lin Hui had the impression that no mobile phone manufacturer copied this function.

In short, Lin Hui feels that even if such software is finally sold to Apple, there is no big problem.

The only troublesome thing is how to deal with the acquisition involving the R&D team.

Even if Apple offers 5000 million US dollars, it is impossible for Lin Hui to pass.

If Apple offered [-] million US dollars, Lin Hui...

But then again, if the R&D team is not acquired.

Even if the acquisition plan can really come true.

It seems that the value obtained is also discounted.

Uh, do you want to find some nominal teammates?

When Lin Hui takes the money, they will enter Apple?
Although it's a bit unkind to only take money from Lin Hui, but it's not a loss for them to enter Apple.

Among other things, it is difficult for ordinary 985 college graduates to enter a chrysanthemum factory, let alone enter Apple.

But these are secondary.

The key is to get the software out first.

As for the future, it doesn't matter if there is no suitable way to discount the purchase price.

And Lin Hui felt that if the software was created by him.

Apple may not be too interested in the technical team.

The reason why Apple in the previous life included the technical team of the workflow software under Apple's banner.

Largely because Ari Weinstein, the original author of the workflow, is the developer of the jailbreak plugin.

So, what is Apple's intention?

Those who have read "Water Margin" should understand it.

It's nothing more than recruiting security.

But Lin Hui is such an ordinary software developer.

Usually develop small games.

Apple should not be interested in him!

But this is not what Lin Hui thinks about.

Speaking of which, there is a reason why Lin Hui dared to cut off the beard openly.

Lin Hui remembered that the shortcut command software was actually an entry for the MHacks 2014 Winter Competition.

In other words, even the original software developer of the shortcut command still exists in this time and space.

But in fact, there is probably no prototype of the shortcut command software in my mind.

It doesn't matter if there is a prototype.

Go to Xianyang first and be king.

As long as it's not something that has been published, it doesn't matter how well you type your manuscript.

However, to be on the safe side, Lin Hui still took the ferry.

Lin Hui found a bunch of automation-related workflows.

The mobile phone software named "workflow" was not found.

This is undoubtedly very favorable news for Lin Hui.

And it involves the development of the shortcut command software.

It's actually not too complicated.

The difficulty of this software lies in the creativity.

Rather than being difficult to implement in programming.

Lin Hui remembered seeing an interview in his previous life.

The original developer of the shortcut software claims that he and another person made an early sample of the shortcut software in two days.

Under such circumstances, Lin Hui felt that he could handle the software in three days.

To get the software done, you must first understand the inner nature of the software.

What sets Workflow apart from most productivity apps is this.

Its main built-in action is not to cooperate with third-party applications in series.

Instead, dig into the built-in features of iOS.

It is precisely because this software fully taps the built-in functions of iOS.

It made Apple see a new possibility.

This is also an important reason why Apple is interested in this software.

(End of this chapter)